The Marriage and Family Therapy Program at App State
The Marriage and Family Program prepares students to work with individuals, couples, and families in a variety of clinical settings. The in-person program requires 51 semester hours and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). The deadline for admission was February 1 for the fall 2022 cohort. Applications will open in early fall to apply to the MFT Masters of Arts Program.
Sage Miller Awarded Provost Fellowship
First year MFT student, Sage Miller, was awarded the Provost Fellowship. He was recognized at the Graduate School Awards. Read more about the award. Congratulations, Sage!
Students and Faculty Presented at NCAMFT Conference
MFT students and faculty presented at the North Carolina Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (NCAMFT) annual conference. Dr. Laura Gambrel and student Jane Thibodeau presented a breakout session titled Embodied Healing through Relational Mindfulness: Systemic, Contemplative, and Experiential Approaches to Cultivating Connection. Dr. Kristen Benson and student Lexie Bruhn presented a workshop titled Evolving Ethics for Systemic Therapists: Evolving Awareness and Evolving Practice. The NCAMFT conference took place in Charlotte, NC March 17-19, 2022.
Dr. Kristen Benson Earns NCAMFT Training Award
Dr. Kristen Benson, MFT Program Director, was presented the 2022 NCAMFT Training Award. Learn more at https://rcoe.appstate.edu/news/dr-kristen-benson-earns-ncamft-training-award
MFT Program now offering GRE Waiver
In our effort to make graduate education more accessible, the MFT Program is offering the option for applicants to waive the GRE exam for the Fall 2022 admissions cycle. Applicants who would like to be considered for the GRE waiver must meet the following requirments: a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher AND at least two reference letters from professors from whom the applicant has taken at least one course; OR five or more years of professional human services or famly systems-related work experience.
MFT Graduates LCAS Eligible
Marriage and Family Therapy students who complete the requirements for the Addictions Counseling Certificate and complete an internship working with addition and recovery are now eligible to be certified as a North Carolina Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS). Appalachian State University MFT/Addictions Counseling Certificate is now recognized as Criteria C pre-approved substance abuse/addictions Master’s degrees, which is an accelerated path to LCAS certification.
Gambrel Served as Editor for JMFT Virtual Issue on Mindfulness in MFT
Dr. Laura Gambrel served at guest editor for the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy virtual issue on Mindfulness in Marriage and Family Therapy. Dr. Gambrel, whose scholaship and training focuses on mindfulness, provides a review of articles related to the theory, research, and clinical practice of mindfulness-based practices in MFT.
Appalachian State Response to COVID-19
The Marriage and Family Therapy program is following direction from Appalachian State and the UNC System, who are monitoring the ongoing responses to COVID-19. For updated information, please visit AppState Cornovirus Information.
For American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) updates and direction for family therapists, please visit Coronavirus: AAMFT Status.
For North Carolina Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (NCAMFTE) updates and directions for family therapists in NC, please visit NCAMFT COVID-19 Information.
Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy (COAMFTE) updates and direction for MFT training programs, visit COAMFTE Message regarding COVID-19
AAMFT Statement on MFT Responsibility to Counter Racism
The MFT Program at Appalachian State endorses the AAMFT statement regarding our responsibility to actively counter racism. We reject systemic racism and work to counter white supremist ideologies. We continue to be reflective and commit to ongoing work to improve our accountability to inclusively train MFTs. Read the entire AAMFT Statement on MFT Responsibility to Counter Racism.
AAMFT Statement on Anti-Transgender Legislation
The MFT Program at Appalachian State endorses the AAMFT statement opposing anti-trangender legislation. Many of these legislate efforts would enact laws that violate the AAMFT Code of Ethics and counter evidence-based clinical best practices for work with transgender clients and their families. Read the entire AAMFT Statement on Anti-Transgender Legislation.
Winek Appointed to NC LMFT Board
Dr. Jon Winek was appointed by Govenor Roy Cooper to serve on the North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board through September 2023. Dr. Winek will work with other LMFTB members to review and approve license applications, enforce ethical standards, and attend to regulatory standards.
Social Justice in Action Fund
The Marriage and Family Therapy Social Justice in Action Fund provides assistance to financially support students from underrepresented populations